Let's start with the facts- Muramasa was released by relatively small publisher Ignition on Sept 8th and cost $50 new, Spyborgs was released by relatively big publisher Capcom on Sept 25th and cost $40, and Dead Space: Extraction was released by super-huge publisher EA on Sept 29th and cost $50. Muramasa reportedly sold approximately 35K in Sept, while Spyborgs sold around 500 units total that month. Dead Space: Extraction put in around 9K.
Not a fair "fight" by any means, but one could argue that in the grand scheme, the advantages and disadvantages between the three games more or less balanced out. Muramasa got a three week head start, but it's an original IP in "dead" genre (2D action-platformers). Spyborgs is also a new IP, but it cost ten dollars less than Muramasa, and had Capcom's muscle behind it from the start. Dead Space Extraction had the most going for it; an established IP, tons of positive press, and a publishing giant like EA to back it up.
So why did Muramasa sell more than the other guys?
I'd like to say that it's because the "hardcore" Wii owner values unique, "off beat" experiences, and has a great respect for 2D gaming. More than likely though, it's just because Muramasa has better boobs.
[Via GoNintendo]
Jonathan Holmes is the most lovable Associate Editor on Destructoid. Catch him on videos, original editorials, and on back episodes of the Destructoid Show and MTV's Road Rules. Jonathan is a retro gamer's gamer.
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Contest:
6:00 AM on 10.22.2009
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I only played it once, but it seemed alright.
Muramasa, on the other hand, well, it's not very good either. It's like a flash game for the Wii, but the promise of high difficulty and pretty screenshots at least enticed me to try itm unlike the first two.
Dead Space Extraction is an interactive movia, also ON-RAILS SHOOTER
railers suck.
i remember back then when being a buttom masher was a bad thing
not sayin its a terrible game, buts not unique
Also, titties.
Enh.
But 500 units for Spyborgs? Really? Dang...
I've seen Dead Space shit everywhere, which is kinda strange for it not to be important in a sense of numerics over the last month.
I've seen folks fawning over Muramasa for the better part of a year. That probably had a lot to do with the hype level of the game and subsequent amount of purchases.
Also those numbers for Dead Space Extraction are pretty terrible.
I can't understand why everyone's trumpeting the game as a failure. The numbers for September BARELY overlap the amount of time the game's been at retail. Let's see how it performs in October before we begin to eulogize in earnest.
Hell, it moved nearly 10000 units in half of a week; does that mean it would have moved 60000 if it had released on the same day as Muramasa? Probably not, but the September showing is hardly a failure.
Spyborg's sales are terrible but it looks like it hasn't really had any promotion anyway. Also, I don't get the praise that Muramasa receives. In terms of art style and animation it is undoubtedly one of the best looking games of this generation but the combat is shallow and repetitve and the backdrops are mostly non-interactive.
As for Dead Space, I'm fairly sure most people are like me and waiting for the game to drop in price or be on sale. $50 for a 4, 5 hour on-rails shooter is just bleh.
I mean, I won't buy it since the only thing that appeals to me are the graphics, but you would think that more than 500 kids in the US would be interested.
...
;_;
Hmmm...Wet Wii....
Frenetic hyper-violent gameplay. Mind-numbing visuals. Magnificent score. Breasts. WIN.
From what I hear, Spyborgs just isn't that fun as it appears to be a repetitive, mindless brawler.
Dead Space: Extraction is really good so it deserves to sell more copies even though it doesn't have much replay value.At least, the game's graphics, atmosphere, gameplay and story telling are worthwhile. In my opinion, it is the best on-rails FPS of this generation. However, the Dead Space brand isn't that popular and it would seem that many people have grown tired of on-rails FPS on the Wii. In addition, EA put little effort into marketing the title.
So, instead of pushing an amazing 9000 in two days, they pushed a "pretty good" 9000 units in a little over a week. Those are still not disappointing numbers, dude, especially for a 3rd party Wii game.
I don't feel sorry for any Big 3rd party game that doesn't sale well... They have all be caught with there pants down since the start of the Wii and fail to see how to really get it together..
Listen EA if you want to a Rail shooter follow these games. Sin and Punishment 1&2, Hotd: overkill.. Other then that don't bother...
I find it funny that those who supported the Wii still seem to find success.. Even Ubisoft might hit a home run if Redsteel 2 lives up to the action.
Muramasa wasn't mind blowing at all... But it was something that caught my attention...
Anyway DS:E was really good. It fleshed out DS and made you feel like you were doing something instead of just shooting at stuff. I think it sold bad because of the dopes that judge a game because its on rails. These same people will get re Evil UC 2. Silly.